Filming in Edinburgh

[frockery]

This is probably one for Matt the omniscient...

I've been asked to suggest a location in central Edinburgh for filming a short interview piece about Scottish education. I thought the Scottish Parliament might be a good idea, but I'm not sure about the 'rules' regarding filming in public places. There is the additional problem of the weather as it's bound to be raining!

Suggestions of indoor/outdoor locations would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Canary Dwarf]

Scottish Museum of Childhood on the royal mile has a victorian classroom exhibition if that's suitable.

[Boxby]

Nip along the M8 and film it a Scotland Street School

[TFGtv.com]

Originally Posted by frockery

This is probably one for Matt the omniscient...

I've been asked to suggest a location in central Edinburgh for filming a short interview piece about Scottish education. I thought the Scottish Parliament might be a good idea, but I'm not sure about the 'rules' regarding filming in public places. There is the additional problem of the weather as it's bound to be raining!

Suggestions of indoor/outdoor locations would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Well, the first thing I'd say to you is that whoever's filming this should really be someone who knows what they're doing! Both from the point of view of dealing with the weather and the legalities of it....

UK Photographers Rights v2 ? Sirimo

Is where we generally refer the students to in the first place; the rules that apply to stills photographers apply equally to film makers...

Permissions wise the front of the Parliament is a tad sensitive though the Policemen who patrol the front are neither aggressive, unreasonable or unhelpful.

I'd just give the press office a ring, tell them what your intentions are, when you're intend filming... They'll let the Bobby know and it saves everyone a load of daft questions... So long as you're not in anyone's way it'll likely be fine. All the paranoid Loonies are reserved for Westminster

Both Scotland St and the Museum are do-able but you'd need to light them; which makes things tricky. PLUS they're probably more paranoid and unhelpful than any of the parliament bods...

Stow? Depending on the content we could maybe do something there?

[TheVillageTrike]

As my avatar photo attests, you can get a photo in front of the Parliament but i was wondering when the police were going to come along and move us on!

How about in front of the old Royal High School building on Regent Road? It is a stunning building and doubt you'd meet any problems with policemen etc.

[TFGtv.com]

Originally Posted by TheVillageTrike

As my avatar photo attests, you can get a photo in front of the Parliament but i was wondering when the police were going to come along and move us on!

How about in front of the old Royal High School building on Regent Road? It is a stunning building and doubt you'd meet any problems with policemen etc.

The Police would keep an eye on you... And if you were in the way they'd speak to you but they'll not be unfair about it....

The RHS is a good location but very noisy for filming interviews. You need a good sound recordist and a relatively wind-free day!

You need permission to get up onto Calton Hill or any of the other 'parks' areas. But the one thing to bear in mind is that Edinburgh isn't like London, and whilst I'm no great fan of the City Council they're not actually a bad lot when it comes to facilitating filming in the city...

[Mike Lewis]

How about the courtyard of Old College in South Bridge? It's a very photogenic site, and it has the benefit of being private property, so the police won't be interested. You'd need to get permission from the uni authorities, but that shouldn't be hard. They must be accustomed to dealing with similar requests.

If the film is about primary or secondary education, then maybe the grounds of a local school would be appropriate.

Mike

[frockery]

Wow, you lot are great! Lots of ideas there, thank you all.

It's actually ITN that are doing the filming (in advance of the Scottish Learning Festival) so they will go about getting any permissions required. They just asked me for suggestions since they are coming up from London.

If it isn't raining, outside the Parliament would probably be favourite (I always fancied doing an Alex Salmond ) but the Museum of Childhood would be an attractive wet weather alternative, especially as I will be talking about school as an anachronistic institution that needs to be freed from the 'command and control' model of education.

[TFGtv.com]

Odd... Them sending a full crew up from London I mean....

They often staff these things locally. Though the last time I worked on an ITN piece in Edinburgh it ended with the sound recordist being left permanently disabled (shattered ankle) and the director losing his pension...

That's one for the pub though....

Might be a bit calmer outside the parliament or up at the museum...

[frockery]

Unsurprisingly, they aren't just coming to film me and have a few other victims lined up.

Pub sounds like an excellent idea, Matt. Mine's a pint.